FinTech

Examining the evolving world of finance technology, offering a thorough analysis of trends, innovations, and influences in both digital and traditional finance, from cryptocurrencies and blockchain to conventional systems.

The New Age of Value

The world of digital assets is rapidly evolving, driven by innovations like cryptocurrencies, NFTs, and decentralized platforms. These technologies are transforming financial systems, industries, and the concept of ownership. Through expert insights and case studies, this guide provides a clear understanding of the digital asset landscape.

The New Age of Value

Bitcoin Blockchain Wars and Its Evolution: Implications for Decentralisation, Economics, and Governance

The Bitcoin Blockchain War (2017): A Turning Point

The Conflict:

Two factions emerged:

  1. Block Size Increase Advocates:

    • Believed Bitcoin should scale on-chain by increasing the block size, enabling more transactions per block.

    • Argued that larger blocks would reduce transaction fees and support Bitcoin’s use as a peer-to-peer electronic cash system, consistent with Satoshi Nakamoto’s original vision.

    • Viewed concerns about centralization as overstated, asserting that technological advancements in storage and bandwidth would mitigate increased node costs.

    • Criticized second-layer solutions like the Lightning Network as overly complex and potentially centralizing due to the reliance on custodial hubs.

  2. SegWit and Lightning Supporters:

    • Proposed keeping the block size small to preserve Bitcoin’s decentralization.

    • Emphasized that larger blocks would increase the cost of running a full node, reducing the number of participants and risking centralization.

    • Advocated for Segregated Witness (SegWit) to optimize block usage and enable second-layer solutions like the Lightning Network for off-chain scaling.

    • Argued that a decentralized network was essential to Bitcoin’s resistance to censorship and long-term viability.

The Split:

The disagreement culminated in a hard fork in August 2017, resulting in two chains:

  1. Bitcoin (BTC):

    • Retained the 1 MB block size, adopted SegWit, and shifted toward a "store of value" narrative akin to digital gold.

  2. Bitcoin Cash (BCH):

    • Increased the block size to 8 MB (and later 32 MB), focusing on low-cost, high-speed transactions to maintain Bitcoin’s usability for payments.

Implications:

The Bitcoin Cash Fork (2018): Further Fragmentation

Dispute Over Direction:

Bitcoin Cash itself split into Bitcoin Cash (BCH) and Bitcoin SV (BSV) in November 2018.

Implications:

The Evolution of Bitcoin’s Role

Original Vision vs. Reality:

Satoshi Nakamoto’s white paper described Bitcoin as a decentralized, peer-to-peer electronic cash system. However, BTC’s trajectory has focused on becoming digital gold—a store of value rather than a daily-use currency.

Economic Implications of the Shift:

Centralisation Concerns:

While Bitcoin is decentralized in protocol, its ownership distribution and rising price challenge its founding ideals:

Long-Term Risks:

A Hypothetical Alternative: Bitcoin as Scalable Electronic Cash

Had the community agreed to increase block sizes to enable on-chain scalability, Bitcoin could have developed as a global, decentralized payment system with implications such as:

Challenges to Scalability:

Concluding Thoughts

The evolution of Bitcoin reflects the tension between decentralization, scalability, and adoption. While BTC’s shift toward digital gold ensures its survival as a store of value, it limits its potential as a peer-to-peer electronic cash system. Meanwhile, the rise of institutions and governments in Bitcoin ownership raises concerns about its decentralization and ability to challenge traditional financial systems.

A scalable Bitcoin could have profound implications, including reducing government control over money and enabling financial freedom. However, achieving this vision would require balancing technical feasibility, decentralization, and geopolitical realities—an ongoing challenge for the cryptocurrency community.

The New Age of Value

The Bitcoin Reformation

In The Bitcoin Reformation, the key idea is that Bitcoin is much more than a financial trend—it’s part of a broader revolution similar to the Protestant Reformation. Just like the Reformation shook up the old systems of power in 16th-century Europe, Bitcoin is challenging the modern financial system, particularly the control held by the International Monetary and Financial System (IMFS).

It starts with a historical parallel: during the Reformation, the Catholic Church held a monopoly on religious and spiritual services, which people began to rebel against. In a similar way, Bitcoin is offering a decentralized alternative to today’s centralized financial structures.

There are four main reasons why both movements took off:

  1. Monopolistic Service Providers: The Catholic Church had control over spiritual matters just as the IMFS has control over global finance today. Bitcoin disrupts that, offering an alternative financial system.

  2. Technological Revolution: The printing press was a game-changer in the 16th century, just like the internet, encryption, and Bitcoin are today. These new technologies make it easier for people to move away from centralized control.

  3. A New Economic Class: Back then, it was the merchant class that pushed back against old power structures. Now, it’s millennials who are sceptical of traditional finance and embracing Bitcoin as an alternative.

  4. Defence and Escape: Just as Dutch rebels used clever strategies to escape control (like flooding land to fight off invaders), today’s "rebels" are using cryptography and decentralized technologies to protect their privacy and financial assets.

Looking ahead, Bitcoin could transform the way we handle money. We might see the rise of full-reserve banking (similar to how banks operated in 17th-century Amsterdam), new forms of peer-to-peer insurance, and the widespread use of Bitcoin as collateral for loans. Derivatives markets around Bitcoin could also grow, just like they did in Amsterdam’s financial system during its Golden Age.

In conclusion, the idea here is that Bitcoin, much like the Reformation, represents a massive cultural shift. As more millennials gain economic power and continue to adopt Bitcoin, we could see a real challenge to the centralized financial systems that dominate today. Over time, Bitcoin has the potential to reshape the global economy just as the Reformation transformed Europe centuries ago.

This isn’t just about finance—it’s about a new way of thinking about money, privacy, and power in the digital age.

The New Age of Value

AI Coins and Decentralized AI Infrastructure

Overview of AI Coins

AI coins are digital assets designed to support and facilitate various functions within the AI ecosystem. They serve as the backbone for enabling decentralized, scalable, and secure AI infrastructure. The key functionalities of AI coins include:

  1. Processing Data: Managing the computational processes required for AI operations, including data analysis, machine learning training, and inference.

  2. Distributing Power:

    • AI coins often facilitate the distribution of processing power across networks.

    • They manage servers and computational resources essential for running AI models efficiently.

  3. Managing and Distributing AI Elements:

    • Coordinating the deployment of specific AI tools, bots, or services.

    • Ensuring equitable and efficient allocation of resources within the network.

Decentralized Physical Infrastructure Networks (DPINs)

Significance of Privacy and Anonymity in AI

Why This Matters

The focus on decentralization and privacy is set to become a major narrative in the evolution of AI. Although currently underrepresented in mainstream discussions, these elements are poised to shape the future of AI development and adoption. By leveraging decentralized systems like DPINs, AI can:

 

The New Age of Value

MicroStrategy’s (MSTR) Bitcoin Investment Strategy: A Comprehensive Overview

Selling Volatility and Recycling into Bitcoin

Michael Saylor, CEO of MicroStrategy, has outlined the company’s innovative approach to capitalizing on market dynamics. Their strategy involves "selling volatility" and reinvesting the proceeds into Bitcoin. The company generates a spread—the difference between the equity premium, convertible bond premium, and Bitcoin premium (measured as the Accretive Earnings Rate [AER] versus the USD). This spread allows them to enhance their Bitcoin holdings per share.

Key steps include:

  1. Issuing Equity at a Premium:

    • MicroStrategy raises capital by issuing shares when their stock price trades at a premium. For example, between November 18–24, the company sold 5.6 million shares at an average price of $440 per share, raising $2.46 billion.

    • These funds were used to purchase 25,000 Bitcoin at an average price of $98,000 each.

    Results:

    • Bitcoin holdings increased by ~10% by the end of Q3, reaching 252,000 BTC.

    • Shares outstanding rose by only ~2.3%, from ~245 million shares, including in-the-money convertible notes.

    • The Bitcoin per 1,000 shares metric rose from 1.03 BTC to 1.1 BTC, creating accretive value for shareholders.

  2. Monetizing Volatility with Convertible Bonds:

    • Convertible bonds provide an alternative way to raise capital without immediate dilution. On November 21, MicroStrategy issued a $3 billion convertible bond maturing in 2029 at a 0% interest rate. These bonds are convertible into shares at a $672 strike price, a 55% premium over the stock’s then-current price of $434.

    • The proceeds were used to acquire ~30,000 Bitcoin at an average price of $98,000 each.

    Risk:

    • If Bitcoin’s price is below $98,000 at maturity in 2029, the bonds will not convert, and MicroStrategy must repay the principal, potentially at a loss.

Accretive Value Creation for Shareholders

MicroStrategy’s strategy hinges on ensuring that the percentage increase in Bitcoin holdings exceeds the percentage increase in shares outstanding. By doing so, Bitcoin per share rises, creating accretive value for shareholders. Saylor describes this as effectively "selling $1 bills for $3."

Key Risks

  1. Bitcoin Price Volatility:

    • Saylor’s projection of Bitcoin appreciating at ~29% annually for the next 21 years underpins the strategy. If Bitcoin fails to meet this expectation, the company faces significant risks, particularly with debt repayment.

  2. Stock Price Dependency:

    • The strategy relies on MicroStrategy’s stock trading at a premium. If market sentiment shifts, issuing equity becomes less viable, leaving debt as the primary funding option.

  3. Leverage and Debt:

    • The company’s high leverage magnifies potential losses during prolonged Bitcoin bear markets, potentially impairing operations.

Why Investors Choose MicroStrategy Over Bitcoin ETFs

MicroStrategy offers leveraged exposure to Bitcoin, unlike ETFs that merely track Bitcoin’s price. Investors believe that the company’s ability to issue debt and equity to acquire additional Bitcoin could yield higher returns than holding Bitcoin directly or investing in ETFs.

Conclusion

MicroStrategy’s financial engineering—issuing equity at a premium and leveraging convertible bonds—creates a unique avenue for Bitcoin investment. While the strategy provides significant upside for Bitcoin maximalists and bullish investors, it comes with substantial risks. The sustainability of this approach is contingent on Bitcoin’s continued appreciation and the market’s confidence in MicroStrategy’s role as a Bitcoin proxy. Investors must weigh these factors carefully, as the duality of high potential returns and significant risks makes this strategy both innovative and polarizing.

Further reading: Bitcoin's 'Glitch in the Matrix' Has MicroStrategy Stuck in a While Loop

The New Age of Value

Bitcoin's 'Glitch in the Matrix' Has MicroStrategy Stuck in a While Loop

Merlin.jpg


In computer programming, there’s a concept known as the "while loop", a piece of code that repeatedly executes a task until a certain condition is met. It seems that MicroStrategy (MSTR) is stuck in this loop.

Many "fundamental" investors are attempting to short the stock, as it trades at multiples far beyond its core net asset or book value. Yet, despite this, the stock shows no signs of relief. Why?

The answer lies in MicroStrategy’s leveraged play on Bitcoin. CEO Michael Saylor has discovered a "glitch" that allows him to borrow money at essentially zero cost and pay nothing to lenders, using the proceeds to acquire more Bitcoin. It's a remarkable deal that keeps driving the cycle forward.

Saylor is issuing debt via convertible bonds with a 0% coupon, offering a 55% premium. Even at these terms, demand exceeds supply, creating what seems like an endless arbitrage opportunity. So, why should anyone stop?

The Bitcoin story is well known. As Bitcoin matures into a mainstream asset class and gains institutional adoption from firms like BlackRock (BLK), its value continues to climb. With only 21 million tokens in existence, its price appears to have no ceiling, attracting traders eager to own a piece of it.

Bitcoin has become the favoured asset for those betting against fiat currency debasement. However, it is important to recognise that Bitcoin is a high-risk, high-reward asset, driven by liquidity on steroids. We saw this in August when the Dollar/Yen trade unwound. In times of economic stress or geopolitical conflict, gold—while less "shiny" than Bitcoin—remains the traditional store of value.

Bitcoin’s halving cycle, which occurs every four years, also contributes to its price rallies, especially around post-election periods. With President-elect Trump’s Bitcoin-friendly policies—suggesting, for example, a strategic Bitcoin reserve—it’s easy to see why some projections range from £250,000 to even $1 million per Bitcoin.

MicroStrategy effectively holds Bitcoin, and as Bitcoin’s price rises, so does the company’s valuation. But the stock’s multiple isn’t merely a function of Bitcoin’s price; it’s amplified by the company’s ability to borrow cheaply and use that debt to buy even more Bitcoin, creating a self-reinforcing cycle of upward momentum.

For institutions unable to trade Bitcoin futures—such as the Swiss National Bank—MicroStrategy offers an alternative way to gain exposure to Bitcoin’s rise. With endless demand and limited supply, this explains much of the stock’s persistence.

Fundamental investors running premium-to-NAV (Net Asset Value) models, citing the 3x+ multiple, are getting burned as they short MSTR. The liquidity is simply insufficient to fight the tide of rising demand.

While the saying "what goes up must come down" holds true, timing is critical. As Bitcoin’s price increases, MicroStrategy’s stock will likely rise far more than its intrinsic value. To make matters worse for shorts, with Bitcoin now included in the Nasdaq 100 Index (QQQ), the relationship between Bitcoin's performance and broader market indices becomes even stronger. Passive funds tracking these indices would push the stock higher, adding fuel to the fire.

MicroStrategy is trapped in a "while" loop, and only a decline in Bitcoin’s price or regulatory intervention could bring it to an end. However, with major institutional investors firmly “hodling” their positions and a Bitcoin-friendly political environment, it’s unlikely that regulation will intervene. As long as Bitcoin continues to rise, so too will MicroStrategy’s stock.


Further reading: MicroStrategy’s Bitcoin Investment Strategy: A Comprehensive Overview

The New Age of Value

Bitcoin Knots

1. What is Bitcoin Knots?

2. Key Features & Enhancements

3. Installation & Setup Notes (Start9 Box)

4. Post-Installation Verification

5. Key Takeaways

The New Age of Value

📊 Bitcoin Price Projections Based on Asset Class Market Caps

This chart visualises what the price of 1 Bitcoin (BTC) would be if Bitcoin’s total market cap grew to match various global asset classes.

Bitcoin’s supply is fixed at 21 million coins, making it inherently scarce. As demand grows and market adoption increases, Bitcoin’s market cap could—hypothetically—compete with other major stores of value.

image.png

 

💰 Asset Classes and Corresponding Implied BTC Prices

Asset Class Approx. Market Cap (USD) Implied BTC Price
Silver $1.3 trillion ~$61,900
Gold $15 trillion ~$714,000
US Stock Market $50 trillion ~$2.38 million
Global Stock Market $110 trillion ~$5.23 million
Global Bond Market $130 trillion ~$6.19 million
Global M2 Money Supply $130 trillion ~$6.19 million
Global Real Estate $380 trillion ~$18.1 million
Total Global Wealth $500 trillion ~$23.8 million

🧮 Calculation Method

Each BTC price is calculated by:

Implied BTC Price=Asset Class Market Cap21,000,000\text{Implied BTC Price} = \frac{\text{Asset Class Market Cap}}{21,000,000}

For example:
If Bitcoin reaches the size of gold’s market cap:

$15,000,000,000,000÷21,000,000≈$714,285\$15,000,000,000,000 ÷ 21,000,000 ≈ \$714,285

🔢 Reading the Chart Scale

The X-axis uses a logarithmic scale to accommodate the wide price range:

This helps show smaller values like silver without visually flattening the higher targets like real estate or global wealth.

🧠 Key Insight

Even reaching 10% of gold’s market cap would imply a BTC price over $70,000 — already within historical highs. The long-term upside remains significant due to Bitcoin’s absolute scarcity and growing global adoption.

Monero: Private and Decentralized Cryptocurrency

This chapter covers the setup, management, and remote access of a self-hosted Monero node and wallet. It includes detailed guides on daemon configuration, wallet CLI usage, Tailscale integration for secure remote connections, troubleshooting, and best practices for maintaining privacy and security within the Monero ecosystem.

Monero: Private and Decentralized Cryptocurrency

Monero: Privacy by Design – Origins, Technology, and Ongoing Evolution

Overview

Monero is a privacy-focused, decentralized cryptocurrency built to deliver strong financial confidentiality by default. Unlike Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies that offer optional or partial privacy features, Monero was designed from the ground up to be untraceable and anonymous. It achieves this through the use of advanced cryptographic techniques, including ring signatures, stealth addresses, confidential transactions, and bulletproofs.

At its core, Monero values decentralization and user sovereignty. To maintain a level playing field for miners and avoid hardware-based centralization, the project regularly changes its proof-of-work (PoW) algorithm to resist ASIC dominance.

Privacy Technologies

Origins and History

Monero began as a fork of Bytecoin, the first implementation of the CryptoNote protocol—a system designed to address privacy issues, mining centralization, and uneven coin distribution in Bitcoin. Bytecoin launched in March 2014 but was marred by controversy over an 80% premine.

In response, a Bitcointalk user known as thankful_for_today forked the Bytecoin code into a new project called BitMonero—a fusion of "Bit" (Bitcoin) and Monero (Esperanto for "coin"). The launch of BitMonero was poorly received, prompting seven community members to fork it again under the simplified name Monero. This group, led by the pseudonymous developer Fluffypony (Riccardo Spagni), became the first Monero Core team.

From its inception in April 2014, Monero has operated without a premine or founder rewards, aligning with its ethos of fairness and decentralization.

Monero’s strong privacy features soon made it a favored cryptocurrency among users seeking financial confidentiality. It also became one of the most used currencies on darknet markets—a reality that has contributed to both its popularity and controversy.

Ongoing Development

Monero evolves through scheduled hard forks, typically occurring every six months. These upgrades introduce protocol improvements, fix bugs, and often include changes to the PoW algorithm to reinforce decentralization.

Notable milestones include:

Regulatory and Social Context

Monero’s unwavering focus on anonymity has drawn mixed reactions. Supporters champion it as a vital tool for privacy rights and financial autonomy. Critics, including regulators, express concern about its potential misuse in illicit activity.

Some jurisdictions have considered or enacted restrictions on Monero due to its untraceable nature. Despite this, Monero remains a legitimate cryptocurrency with a dedicated global community and ongoing technical innovation.

Conclusion

Monero stands out in the cryptocurrency space for its strong commitment to privacy, decentralization, and fungibility. While its anonymity features spark ongoing debate, Monero continues to push forward as a leading project for those who believe financial privacy is not just a feature—but a fundamental right.


    See also:

Monero: Private and Decentralized Cryptocurrency

Monero Monitoring & Troubleshooting Commands Reference

1. Check Monero Daemon Status

systemctl status monerod

2. Start / Stop / Restart Monero Daemon

systemctl start monerod
systemctl stop monerod
systemctl restart monerod

3. Check Real-Time Syncing Progress (Logs)

journalctl -u monerod.service -n 20 --no-pager

Or continuously (live):

tail -f /mnt/monero/.bitmonero/monerod.log

4. Check if Monero is Running

ps aux | grep monerod

5. List All Screen Sessions

screen -ls

6. Reattach to Existing Screen Session

screen -r <session_name>
# e.g., screen -r monero

7. Detach from Screen (keep running in background)

Ctrl + A then D

8. Check Disk Space

df -h

Specific mount point:

df -h /mnt/monero

9. Inspect Large Files/Folders

du -xh / | grep -P 'G\t' | sort -hr | head -20

10. Check for Deleted Files Still Using Disk Space

lsof | grep deleted

11. Check Wallet Sync Status from CLI

Inside monero-wallet-cli:

status
net_stats

12. Manually Launch Wallet CLI

/mnt/monero/monero-wallet-cli --wallet-file /mnt/monero/wallets/blueace

13. Account Tag and Label Commands

Inside wallet CLI:

account tag <tag_name> <index>
account tag_description <tag_name> <description>
account label <index> <label text>

14. Ensure Mount on Boot

In /etc/fstab, add:

UUID=<your-uuid>  /mnt/monero  ext4  defaults  0  2

Then:

mount -a

15. Quick Ping to Confirm Internet/DNS

ping -c 3 deb.debian.org

This set of commands should cover most operational and recovery scenarios. Feel free to expand this as your setup evolves (e.g., adding wallet RPC, remote access, VPN, or port monitoring).

See also:

Monero: Private and Decentralized Cryptocurrency

Monero Wallet Guide

🔐 Create a New Wallet

/mnt/monero/monero-wallet-cli --generate-new-wallet /mnt/monero/wallets/<wallet_name>

📂 Open an Existing Wallet

/mnt/monero/monero-wallet-cli --wallet-file /mnt/monero/wallets/<wallet_name>

📁 Mount Wallet Directory (if needed)

If your wallet directory is not mounted automatically on boot:

mount /dev/sda1 /mnt/monero

To mount it automatically on boot, add the following line to /etc/fstab:

/dev/sda1  /mnt/monero  ext4  defaults,noatime  0  2

🏷️ Address Labeling

Create a new subaddress with a label:

address new <label>

View all addresses and their labels:

address all

Change an existing label:

address label <index> <new label>

🧷 Tag Management

Assign a tag to a specific account index:

account tag <tag_name> <account_index>

Set a description for a tag:

account tag_description <tag_name> <description>

💾 Copy Wallet Files to Your Local Machine (via SCP)

From your local machine, run:

scp root@<remote_ip>:/mnt/monero/wallets/<wallet_name>* ~/Downloads/
scp 'root@192.168.1.155:/mnt/monero/wallets/nero*' ~/Downloads/  # on Mac

🔐 Why Avoid Using the Primary Address

🧹 Sweep Balance to Another Wallet

To transfer all funds to another address:

sweep_all <destination_address>

See also:

Monero: Private and Decentralized Cryptocurrency

Secure Remote Access to Monero Node Using Tailscale VPN

Q: What VPN solution are we using to securely access the Monero node remotely?

A: We use Tailscale, a user-friendly mesh VPN based on WireGuard, to create a secure, private network between your devices.

Q: How do I install Tailscale on my DietPi (Monero) server?

A: Run this command on the DietPi terminal to install Tailscale:

curl -fsSL https://tailscale.com/install.sh | sh

Q: How do I start and enable Tailscale service on DietPi?

A: After installation, start the service and enable it to run at boot:

sudo systemctl enable --now tailscaled

Q: How to authenticate and connect the DietPi server to your Tailscale network?

A: Run this to authenticate:

sudo tailscale up

Q: How do I check that my DietPi server is connected to the Tailscale network?
A: Use the status command:

tailscale status

You should see your DietPi listed with its Tailscale IP address.

Q: How to install Tailscale on your local Mac (or other client machine)?

A: Download the Tailscale app from tailscale and install it. Then sign in with the same Tailscale account you used for the server.

Q: How do I confirm the local machine is connected and can reach the DietPi server?

A: On your Mac terminal, ping the DietPi Tailscale IP:

ping <dietpi-tailscale-ip>
Replace <dietpi-tailscale-ip> with the actual Tailscale IP you see in tailscale status.

Q: How do I connect my Monero wallet CLI on my Mac to the remote monerod daemon over Tailscale?

A: Use the remote daemon IP and port in your wallet CLI command:

./monero-wallet-cli --wallet-file /path/to/yourwallet --daemon-address <dietpi-tailscale-ip>:18081 --trusted-daemon

Q: What if I encounter connection errors or timeouts?


A: Verify:


Q: How to stop or disable Tailscale on DietPi if needed?

A:

sudo systemctl stop tailscaled
sudo systemctl disable tailscaled

Monero: Private and Decentralized Cryptocurrency

Monero Node Administration & Maintenance Guide

1. Checking for Duplicate Files and File Usage

2. Open Ports and What Services They Listen To

3. Checking iptables and UFW Rules

iptables Commands:

4. Network and Firewall Troubleshooting

5. Commands for Managing Services and Systemd

6. Mail Setup (msmtp, Mailutils)

7. Directory and File Clean-Up

8. System Information and Disk Usage

9. Miscellaneous Useful Commands

10. File Transfer Commands

Monero: Private and Decentralized Cryptocurrency

🔥 Making Monero Port 18080 Firewall Rule Persistent on DietPi (with ts-input Chain)

🧩 Problem Summary

🛠️ Workaround Overview

📜 Step 1 — Create the script /root/scripts/fix-monero-fw.sh

#!/bin/bash

# Wait up to 60 seconds for ts-input chain to appear
for i in {1..60}; do
  if iptables -L ts-input &>/dev/null; then
    echo "$(date) - Chain ts-input exists, proceeding"
    break
  else
    echo "$(date) - Chain ts-input does not exist yet, waiting..."
    sleep 1
  fi
done

# Exit if chain never appears
if ! iptables -L ts-input &>/dev/null; then
  echo "$(date) - ERROR: Timeout waiting for ts-input chain. Exiting."
  exit 1
fi

# Remove duplicate rules for tcp port 18080 in ts-input, keep only first
RULE_COUNT=$(iptables -L ts-input -n --line-numbers | grep -c 'tcp dpt:18080')

while [ "$RULE_COUNT" -gt 1 ]; do
  echo "$(date) - Removing duplicate rule at position 2"
  iptables -D ts-input 2
  RULE_COUNT=$(iptables -L ts-input -n --line-numbers | grep -c 'tcp dpt:18080')
done

# Insert rule if missing
if ! iptables -C ts-input -p tcp --dport 18080 -j ACCEPT &>/dev/null; then
  echo "$(date) - Rule not found, inserting rule"
  iptables -I ts-input 1 -p tcp --dport 18080 -j ACCEPT
else
  echo "$(date) - Rule already exists, no action needed"
fi

exit 0

Make executable:
chmod +x /rootscripts/fix-monero-fw.sh

⚙️ Step 2 — Create systemd service /etc/systemd/system/fix-monero-fw.service


[Unit]
Description=Add iptables rule for Monero port 18080 after tailscaled starts
After=network-online.target tailscaled.service
Wants=network-online.target tailscaled.service

[Service]
Type=oneshot
ExecStart=/root/scripts/fix-monero-fw.sh
RemainAfterExit=yes
StandardOutput=append:/var/log/fix-monero-fw.log
StandardError=append:/var/log/fix-monero-fw.log

[Install]
WantedBy=multi-user.target

🔄 Step 3 — Enable and start the service

systemctl daemon-reload
systemctl enable fix-monero-fw.service
systemctl start fix-monero-fw.service

✅ Step 4 — Verify after reboot

Check the rule applied:
iptables -L ts-input -n --line-numbers | grep 18080 

Check logs:
tail /var/log/fix-monero-fw.log

🧹 Optional — Log rotation

Create /etc/logrotate.d/fix-monero-fw

/var/log/fix-monero-fw.log {
    daily
    rotate 7
    missingok
    notifempty
    compress
    delaycompress
    copytruncate
}

Test rotation:
logrotate --force /etc/logrotate.d/fix-monero-fw

🎉 Result

🧰 Additional Useful Commands

Command Description
lsof -i :18080 Lists processes using TCP port 18080
journalctl -u fix-monero-fw.service -b -n 50 Shows last 50 logs from the fix-monero-fw.service for current boot
cat /var/log/fix-monero-fw.log Displays the content of the fix-monero-fw.log file
journalctl -u monerod.service -f Follows live logs of the Monero daemon service
`ps aux grep monerod`
systemctl daemon-reexec Reloads the systemd manager configuration
systemctl daemon-reload Reloads systemd units and configurations
systemctl enable iptables-custom-rule.service Enables the iptables custom rule service
iptables -L ts-input -n --line-numbers Lists all rules in ts-input chain with line numbers
`iptables -L ts-input -n --line-numbers grep 18080`
sudo crontab -l Lists root user’s cron jobs

Monero: Private and Decentralized Cryptocurrency

🔄 Why Earlier Attempts to Persist the iptables Rule for Port 18080 on DietPi Failed

🧩 Current Setup Summary

⚠️ Core Issue: The ts-input Chain Isn’t Available Early Enough

📝 Review of Earlier Approaches and Why They Failed

1. 🧰 Using iptables-persistent

2. ⚙️ Basic systemd Service Applying the Rule on Boot

3. ⏰ Cron Job with @reboot Directive

🔧 Why Our Final Workaround Works

📌 Summary

Approach Outcome Reason for Failure
iptables-persistent Rule not applied after reboot ts-input chain missing when rules restored
Basic systemd service Rule insertion fails early Runs before ts-input chain is created
Cron @reboot + sleep Unreliable, race conditions persist Chain not guaranteed to exist after sleep delay
Final script + systemd Reliable rule application Waits and retries until chain exists before insert
Monero: Private and Decentralized Cryptocurrency

🧾 Creating and Managing Additional Accounts for Transaction Segmentation in Monero Wallet

➕ Create a New Account

account new <label>

🏷️ Create and Label a Subaddress

address new <label>

🔖 Assign a Tag to an Account

account tag <tag_name> <account_index>

📝 Set a Tag Description

account tag_description <tag_name> <description>

💸 Send Funds from Account 0 to Account 1

First, switch to account 0 (if not already selected):

account switch 0

Then send funds to the Dev Team subaddress in account 1:

transfer <destination_address> <amount>
transfer 88xkUv...xyz 0.04

🔄 Notes on Monero Account and Address Behaviour

🏷️ Address Labelling

Create a new subaddress with a label:

address new <label>

View all addresses and their labels:

address all

Change an existing label:

address label <index> <new label>

🧷 Tag Management

Assign a tag to a specific account index:

account tag <tag_name> <account_index>

Set a description for a tag:

account tag_description <tag_name> <description>`